Increased restrictions - single people

[Nunoftheother]

I'm concerned about what I've been reading that the current restrictions might be tightened even more so that even outdoor exercise with one other person would be forbidden.

I'm not intending to start a debate as to whether or not that should happen, but as a single person who lives on their own (and I mean actually alone, not "alone" with children) it would mean I would literally see no-one apart from when I go to the supermarket and possibly GP's, etc.

I suppose I'm just wondering how other people in a similar situation are feeling about it.

For various reasons (no family living close, friends with elderly parents, fairly recent break-up) I don't have a support bubble so as it is I'm only seeing people about once a week. I'm ok at the moment, but the thought of no social contact until the spring is pretty scary.

According to the Times, Hancock wanted to remove the exemption for exercise, but Boris overruled him.

I am not usually a Boris fan, but good on him.

Don't punish the people who do comply, punish the people who don't!

Ahh didn't read full thread! Hancock was like this last time though - he wanted to "punish" us for not complying. It wasn't about risk, it was about control.

If anything needs to be tightened it's the requirement of employers to keep as many workers as physically possible from home. Have read so many threads on here from people being told by their managers they have to go in when they blantantly don't.
Add to that make it easier for working parents to claim furlough while their kids are stuck at home.
They need to make it easier for people to stay at home not make it harder for individuals than it already is

During the first lockdown last March I was alone throughout. My family live hundreds of miles away, I have no friends in the immediate area I could have met up with. I spent a lot of time on FaceTime with family and friends and just got through it.
I’m lucky that I’m quite comfortable and actually prefer (or at least did) being on my own. But even still, i found it difficult at times. I’ve still not seen any family or friends since last March other than one who I’ve bubbled up with now.

It makes me feel a bit shit that no-one has suggested forming a support bubble

Do they know you are not in a support bubble already? Do they know you might be interested in forming one with them? This is not something I would ask a single friend, as I'd assume they were happy with whatever arrangements they'd made, but I'd be happy to form a support bubble with a friend if asked.

Matt Hancock has said that support bubbles will be the last thing to go. If exercise with someone else goes as well, I do think you need to speak to some of your walking buddies about forming a bubble - you can say you still only want to meet up once a week outside.

I think people assume that support bubbles are a solution for everyone, when they really are not. Like many others I live alone- my family are too far away to realistically bubble with, and any friends have their own partners/friends/extended families to quite rightly prioritise. I can’t ask them to be my support bubble when they have their own parents/in laws/relatives who need support. Meeting a friend outside for exercise is the only option for a lot of people.